Portfolios are a great way to highlight student growth and work. Combined portfolios can demonstrate language abilities in the areas of speaking, reading, writing, listening, and interacting, along with traditional components usually shown in portfolios, such as art, cultural themes, and cross curricular items. They are also a useful tool for teachers when doing assessment. Students can do self- or peer- assessments that might be included in the portfolio. Teachers can give criteria for the work in advance, and then compare the student work across the rubric. In addition, teachers can collect student work to make a portfolio of samples, which might also include a range of abilities to show different qualities of work. A comparison of Traditional Portfolios and Language Portfolios (based on the European model)
TraditionalPortfolios
LanguagePortfolios
Often a scrapbook format serves as a memory book or keepsake of the year
A three part portfolio consisting of a biography, a passport, and a language dossier
A teacher-selected collection of thematic or cross-curricular student art/visual work
The Dossier serves as a student-selected collection of ongoing evidence of progress towards meeting language objectives
The primary focus is to create an aesthetically pleasing product and does not include self-reflections, teacher feedback or other types of assessments
The primary focus is to include student self-reflection and self-monitoring of progress made during language learning.
The product is teacher-made, and often is sent home with the student at the end of the school year.
The product is student-made and is intended to follow the student throughout the years.
Evolving to a Combined Portfolio will include: A collaborative teacher & student selection of:
Written work
Art work
Cultural activities and projects
Cross-Curricular components
Biography or “All About Me” information
Photos, videos or electronic recordings of various language tasks, such as reading, listening, oral interactions, etc.
Assessments
The primary focus is to involve students in highlighting their growth and achievement while providing opportunity to use 2nd language.The Combined Portfolio consists of a collection of evidence from the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening and interaction.It includes evidence of student self-reflections, teacher feedback or other types of assessments.The product is a joint effort under teacher guidance. Take a look at some examples of work and ideas to demonstrate: Language Abilities Art Work Culture and holidays Cross - curricular learning like Math, Science, etc.
A comparison of Traditional Portfolios and Language Portfolios (based on the European model)
A collaborative teacher & student selection of:
The primary focus is to involve students in highlighting their growth and achievement while providing opportunity to use 2nd language.The Combined Portfolio consists of a collection of evidence from the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening and interaction.It includes evidence of student self-reflections, teacher feedback or other types of assessments.The product is a joint effort under teacher guidance.
Take a look at some examples of work and ideas to demonstrate:
Language Abilities
Art Work
Culture and holidays
Cross - curricular learning like Math, Science, etc.